Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Know your rotation speed
A typical trainer rotates in the mid-50s of knots - a 172 at around 55 KIAS, climbing out at a Vy in the low 70s, though check your own POH rather than memorising Cessna's numbers - and the transferable rule is that Vr sits just above the stall speed in takeoff configuration. Rotate early because "it felt ready" and the aircraft lifts off inside ground effect, where induced drag is reduced, then climbs out of it into more drag. On a marginal-performance day the result is an aircraft that lifts off and then refuses to climb, sagging back towards the runway.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 14 stages, 12 scored
Events
Events
Events
Two stabilised approach gates, each with six checks at 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway. They are the approach's score: the checks passed out of the checks that ran.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,382 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,382 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 308 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The aircraft taxied to runway 03 at O79 Sierraville Dearwater and commenced the departure roll. Takeoff was achieved after a ground run of 167 m, representing 18 % of the available runway, and liftoff occurred at 52 kt. Local conditions were 3 °C temperature, wind 1 kt from 182°, with a 1 kt cross-wind and a 1 kt tail-wind component.
The initial climb began overhead O79 Sierraville Dearwater, climbing from 5,946 ft asl to 6,369 ft asl. The altitude gain of 424 ft was attained in 1 minute while covering less than 1 nm.
A level cruise segment followed, also overhead O79 Sierraville Dearwater, lasting 3 minutes and encompassing a distance of 5 nm.
The next climb segment started 2 miles south-east of O79 Sierraville Dearwater, with the aircraft ascending from 6,616 ft asl to 7,158 ft asl. An increase of 542 ft was achieved in 2 minutes while traveling 2 nm.
Subsequent cruise commenced 4 miles south-east of O79 Sierraville Dearwater and persisted for 12 minutes, during which 17 nm were covered.
For the final approach to runway 20 at KTRK Truckee Tahoe Airport, the aircraft approached from the north-east, maintaining a heading of 211.0° at 2 nm and 914 ft agl.
During the descent phase the aircraft reduced altitude from 1,059 ft agl to 43 ft agl in 226 seconds, and the approach was recorded as having scored on the stabilisation gates.
Landing was executed on runway 20, whose length is 1,382 m. The threshold speed was slightly below the target at 40 kt. Touchdown occurred 306 m down the runway at 36 kt with a vertical speed of minus 40 fpm, and alignment was reported as perfect. The total landing distance measured 381 m, equivalent to 28 % of the runway.
Runway rollout alignment was also noted as perfect.
In total the flight covered 32 nm, took 20 minutes, and consumed 0 kg of fuel.
The final approach to runway 20 at KTRK Truckee Tahoe Airport was flown from the north-east on a heading of 211.0° at 2 nm and 914 ft agl. At the 1,000 ft gate the approach was assessed as unstable: flaps were not set, the aircraft was off the glideslope and more than 20 kt above VREF. Descent continued from 1,059 ft agl to 43 ft agl in 226 seconds while the aircraft remained outside the stabilisation parameters.
Threshold height was reported as good and the threshold speed was a little below target at 40 kt. The aircraft crossed the threshold with a speed of 36 kt, a touchdown distance of 306 m and a vertical rate of minus 40 fpm, and runway touchdown alignment was perfect.
Touchdown occurred within the aim point, with the measured distance of 306 m and speed of 36 kt confirming a satisfactory landing point. The vertical rate of minus 40 fpm and the perfect alignment indicated a clean touchdown.
Rollout covered a total landing distance of 381 m, representing 28 % of the 1,382 m runway, and rollout alignment remained perfect throughout the deceleration phase. Local weather was 3 °C with a wind of 1 kt from 182°, providing a 1 kt headwind and a 1 kt crosswind.
Future flights should ensure flaps are selected and speed is reduced to within VREF by the 1,000 ft gate to achieve a stabilised approach, and maintain glideslope capture to avoid the observed altitude and speed deviations.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values